European Actions in favour of e-accessibility Unit “e-Inclusion” ( François JUNIQUE ) Per BLIXT  Paul TIMMERS, Ima PLACENCIA Directorate “ICT for Citizens and Businesses” Frans de BRUÏNE europa.eu.int/information_society/policy/accessibility/ Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” Paris - 30 Jan 2006

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 2 Inclusion & Digital Divide EU / EC policy developments e-Accessibility - ICT for Independent Living - No new barriers from ICT Social issues Regional issues eEurope ( ) - Design for All (mainstream + assistive technology) - Public Web accessibility - Review of existing Regulations & Standards Broad-band i2010 ( ) 3 rd pillar e-Inclusion: ICT for inclusion + inclusive ICT Analysis, monitoring, awareness, coordination, … MS + EC (policy, financing, regulation) : “2008 initiative” Elderly People & Persons with Disability Low education, Unemployment, etc Remote areas

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 3 i2010/Inclusion – eInclusion “2008 EC initiative” preparation Exclusion factors Individual & Collective Benefits Intervening Actors awareness, access (incl. affordability), accessibility & usability, skills, contents & services, trust & security, contextual factors & “enabling environments” (social capital, communities, family, workplace) eAccessibility ICT & Aging (AAL) Digital Literacy Geographical digital divide … 2006: RIGA Ministerial conference EC work on Independent Living 2007: EC work on eInclusion

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 4  Deployment of existing policies is uneven & slow in Europe Technical requirements & standards being developed nationally  Despite own efforts Industry lacks incentive to mainstream eAccessibility (not enough timely/anticipating solutions)  Accessible ICT goods and services not competitive enough  increasing risk of digital divide Need for promoting a consistent approach to EU eAccessibility initiatives in the Member states, on a voluntary basis, promoting a consistent approach to EU eAccessibility initiatives in the Member states, on a voluntary basis, fostering industry self regulation to better meet market needs fostering industry self regulation to better meet market needs Policy objective: Increase the availability of quality Accessible ICT products and services in Europe i2010/Inclusion : 2005 Need for EC intervention on eAccessibility

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 5 i2010/Inclusion : Sept 2005 EC Communication on eAccessibility Design for all Research Accessibility requirements & standards Certification (explore) Public procurement Legal measures (better use) Web accessibility Accessible ICT Products & Services Benchmark & monitor REVIEW IN 2 YEARS TIME

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 6 i2010/Inclusion – eAcc EC COM “eAccessibility potential of existing EU legislation” Various cases with existing articles in EU directives 1. Asking MS to take initiatives 2. Permitting MS to take initiatives 3. Allowing EC actions Various opportunities (national transpositions, revisions) Examples Electronic Communication Framework Directives (ECFD) & Universal Service Directive (USD)  Terminal Directives (RTTE)  Employment Equality Directive (reasonable accommodation) Public Procurement Directives

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 7 i2010/Inclusion – eAcc EC COM ICT Public procurement: Requirements Int. WS 2004 Different approaches internationally (converging?), but general consensus that using public procurement to promote accessibility of ICT is a good thing Strong need for internationally harmonised standards / requirements (suitable for use in procurement) Such standards / requirements to be “objective” (and seen to be so), and endorsed by all the relevant stakeholders Confusion (partly semantic) about the term “voluntary”; different meanings in different contexts (standards, self regulation, self certification….); industry generally favours voluntary approaches The user view is that requirements must be mandatory, based on objectively defined standards / requirements, and be independently verifiable Real need for supports for procurers, e.g. toolkits All stakeholders appreciate the benefits of working together and are committed to continuing this.

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 8 i2010/Inclusion – eAcc EC COM Public procurement EU Directives : the ‘hooks’ The preambles : “Contracting authorities should, whenever possible, lay down technical specifications so as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or design for all users.” The specific Articles on technical specifications : “Whenever possible […] should be defined so as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or DfA.” Award phase… the criteria on which the contracting authorities shall base the award of public contracts shall either: (a) when the awards is made to the tender most economically advantageous from the point of view of the contracting authority, various criteria linked to the subject matter of the public contract in question, for example quality, price, technical merit, aesthetic and functional characteristics, environmental characteristics,…. (b) the lowest price

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 9 i2010/Inclusion – eAcc EC COM ICT Public procurement : EC Mandate to the ESOs Phase I: Inventory Technology products (ICT) Existing accessibility requirements & Gaps Existing standards to comply with accessibility requirements Assessment: requirements as technical specifications/ award criteria Report on testing and conformity assessment schemes Phase II: Standardisation European standard (EN) Accessibility requirements for ICT domain, to be used as technical specifications Technical report (TR) listing existing technical standards Guidelines on award criteria Guidance and support material On line freely accessible toolkit

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 10 i2010/Inclusion – eAcc EC COM Conformance & Certification Various ways to demonstrate conformance to eAccessibility requirements for a product or service: e.g. self-declaration, third party certification or process management, … Various contexts: public procurements, (some) Member States legislation, industry products marketing, [testing with users?] … Various bases: requirements standards/guidelines, quality criteria, assessment, reference material,… (conditional or qualitative comparison awards) Various clients: end users, industry, public authorities, … Various conditions: mandatory/voluntary, label or not, …  Workshop in Brussels - 27 March international cooperation Users trust, Industry effort recognition, reliable method/process

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 11 i2010/Inclusion – eAcc EC COM Measuring progress of eAccessibility in Europe Study (just launched) Review of the existing methodologies & indicators. Survey of existing actions which have improved eAccessibility Methodology to monitor and identify Methodology to measure rate of eAccessibility in the Member States, experienced by people with disabilities and older people. rate of eAccessibility, experienced by other stakeholders. First measurement and analysis of the data. (12m) Second measurement and analysis of the data. (24 m) Final report including conclusions and policy recommendations 2 supporting workshops

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 12 EC supported Research eAccessibility & eInclusion history TIDE - Pilot + Bridge Phase projects M€ FP4 - TAP : Disability and Elderly 53 projects 50 M€ 1996 FP5 - IST : Special Needs 40 projects 60 M€ FP6 - IST eInclusion + Policy Support 30 projects 70 M€ + IST AAL for the Ageing Society … (new Call) FP7 (ERA, Lisbon) 7years - budget? eInclusion… “Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacities” Instruments: continuity + technology platforms & joint initiatives (EU Article 171) Research Council, EC agencies? 2007

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 13 EC supported Research FP – Priorities/ERA/instruments Main Instruments - Integrated Projects  - Networks of Excellence - Specific Targeted Research Projects - Specific Support Actions - Coordination Actions + Art. 169

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 14 EC supported Research Some ideas for eInclusion in FP7 Understanding the Challenge: role of technology in addressing individuals/ communities' needs Use of ICT to provide content for improving social capital & citizenship and to increase eSkills Ensuring equal access and participation: removal and prevention of technological barriers: DfA & (new AT) Services & tools to foster the inclusion process: supporting professionals, family and mediators Horizontal issues: Identification of good ICT policies, benchmark indicators, cooperation (MS & international) + Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) ‘Article 169’

PARIS 30 Jan 2006 Workshop “Instruments for Making Web Accessibility a Reality” European Actions in favour of e-accessibility (F.Junique) 15 “European Actions in favour of e-accessibility” “European Actions in favour of e-accessibility” i2010 & R&D FP - EC Calendar eAccessibilitylegislationeInclusionR&D+CIP … - PP Int. WS- reviews eEurope  i2010 3i FP6 c2 + P eAcc. EC COM - RTTE Dir. - … - FP6 c5 - CIP def Study Φ1 - PP req.  ESOs - Conform. WS - CoCom rep. for ECFD - RIGA Min. conf. + Action Plan - I.L. EC work - FP6 c6 ‘AAL for the Ageing Soc.’ PP common req. Φ1  Φ2 … - eIncl. EC workFP7 starts… Study Φ2 & conclusions  Possible new introduction ? ‘Major EC Initiative’